Meet Our Staff

Let me say, welcome and thank you for taking time to visit the Higgins Methodist website. My name is Fred Zickefoose, the Pastor of Higgins, and I’d like to tell you a little about me.

I was born and raised outside of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, where I married my high school sweetheart, Joyce, in 1992. We have two grown sons, Josh and John, and five grandkids: Ezra, Tenley, Zander, Zoey, and Talia. 

I often volunteered to speak for Sunday services at our local nursing home and Joyce and I were the Youth Group leaders in our home church, but never did I have designs of entering the ministry process and becoming a pastor. Someone saw something in me that I did not and pointed it out to me; from that moment on the Holy Spirit had a hold of me, leading me in the direction of pastoral ministry. 

Since 2012 I have served three different multi-point charges in Western Pa. learning from each of them. In 2023 the Holy Spirit started leading me in a different direction and that direction was south, to Higgins Methodist Church. I am excited to be here, bringing what I’ve learned and prepared to learn even more as I serve side by side with an amazing, loving, faithful, family of God.

If you would like a more contemporary service on Sunday morning, we have the Celebration Service at 8:30. If you would like a more traditional service, we have the Sanctuary Service at 11. When you stop in, come up and say hi, I’ll be at both. 
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In the meantime, again, thanks for checking out the Higgins Methodist website. I look forward to meeting you. God bless, and I’ll see you soon.

Pastor Fred

Jake & Jordan Honeycutt 
Youth Leaders
[email protected]

​Jake & Jordan bring with them diverse skills, knowledge, and personalities. They have a desire to foster in the youth of this generation a consuming, passionate heart for God.  

Jake and Jordan are high school sweethearts who married in 2011. They have two boys that keeps them very busy. They were both active in Higgins Youth group as teens, and are excited to be able to give back. 

​​Check out our Youth Page for more information!! Like our Facebook page and sign up to receive our text alerts through Remind. 

Actively interviewing candidates 
Children's Ministry
Brenda Sparks Choir Director
Sanctuary Service
  bio coming soon.  ​

Brian Turner
Pianist/Organist
[email protected]

Brian Turner is an internationally-acclaimed pianist, composer, and recording artist, whose diverse repertoire has earned him the opportunity to share the stage with a wide array of well-known and accomplished musicians. 

Brian began playing the piano over 25 years ago, and by age 12 was performing professionally for audiences across Northeast Ohio. Following high school, he attended Ohio University, studying with renowned pianist Richard Syracuse and earning degrees in piano performance and pedagogy. He performed with a variety of groups at the collegiate level, from accompanying other classical musicians to joining larger ensembles to forming popular local rock groups headlining in clubs. After college, Brian relocated to Asheville, NC, where he has established a thriving piano studio in West Asheville and performs regularly as a solo musician and as a member and bandleader of Orange Krush, as well as with other local bands and ensembles. 

For more information on Brian, please visit his website:
http://www.brianturnerpiano.com/

Dorene Branton
Office Administrator
dbranton@higginsmethodist.com
Dorene began working here in June 2018.  She is the financial and administrative secretary.  Dorene lives here in Burnsville with her husband Marty and sons Dawson, Jalen & Stepson Cody. She is a graduate of Watauga High School and has worked for Harris - Teeter and as a Paralegal for a law firm and as an independent Paralegal/ title examiner. Most recently she has worked as the secretary for West Burnsville Baptist Church and as secretary for Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home. 

Charlie Willis
Facilities Manager
[email protected]

 Charlie joined the Higgins team in 2006. As the facilities manager, he is responsible for the maintenance of the building and the setup of church activities. In other words, he keeps things running around here!

In his spare time, Charlie enjoys playing golf and spending time with his wife, Stephanie, and their daughter, Emilee and their two grandsons. On Sunday mornings, you'll see Charlie singing on the praise team.